WHAT IS MEDIATION?

During the mediation process, I will meet with both parties as a neutral and impartial third person to assist in deciding the terms of your dissolution of marriage or other family law matter. As a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator, I will meet with both parties together, and then separately (if necessary) in order to negotiate a resolution. Your final agreement will cover all the pending issues in your case, which may include parenting of children, division of assets and liabilities, and obligations for support.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

Mediation is becoming a popular alternative to the traditional, adversarial divorce process, and it has unbelievable benefits:

• It is less expensive, less stressful and less emotional. A court battle is more than just financially draining. Often, in an adversarial court setting, litigants do and say things that can never be taken back. With mediation, you can avoid the emotional stress of appearing and testifying before your Judge, your spouse, your spouse’s attorney, and your families. If you have an attorney, your attorney will have to prepare you for such court appearances. You will incur legal fees as you and your attorney engage in organizing discovery, conducting depositions, subpoenaing witnesses, and preparing for any other stages in your litigation. Mediation can prevent months and years of attorneys’ fees because you are using one neutral person to resolve your issues. Even if you are currently represented by counsel, mediation is a faster, more valuable alternative than going to trial.
  
  
• It provides a better future for your family. Let your children see that Mom and Dad worked out their differences without saying hateful things in a Court transcript and without putting their futures in a Judge’s hands. Parents are the MOST capable of making decisions for the future of their children, not a Judge who will have a limited time to hear your case among the hundreds of cases on his calendar. You both understand your family’s schedules, finances, and makeup better than your Judge.
  
  
• YOU control the terms of the agreement. Often, a trial results in a Judgment that neither party is pleased with. At mediation, you are completely in control of the terms of your dissolution. Parties are most likely to comply with the terms they have agreed upon, rather than those that are imposed by a Judge – which means you won’t be returning to Court to enforce your agreement. If all parties come to an agreement, you will leave my office knowing the outcome of your case, and knowing you created an agreement that is the most practical for you and your family.
  
  
• It’s informal, private, and confidential. Forget trying to understand trial objections and the rules of evidence. At mediation, you will tell your side of the story without opposing counsel objecting to your “testimony.” Mediation is substantially more informal than court hearings and trials because there are no strict rules regarding the admissibility of your statements and evidence. What’s more, everything is confidential. Even if you don’t settle your case with me, nothing you say in mediation can be repeated at trial. Also, you are not required to reach a decision – the mediation is completely in your control.

WHAT IF I AM NOT REPRESENTED BY AN ATTORNEY?

I offer mediation to parties who are represented by an attorney or those who are “pro se” (representing themselves). If neither party is represented by an attorney, you BOTH must agree to attend mediation with my firm, unless a Court order provides otherwise. Please call our firm at 363.9600 in order to find out more about our “pro se” mediation services.